Welcome win after two successive defeats on the road.

This 20-5 victory was very necessary to get the 1st XV back into winning ways - the win takes them back to third place in the League Table - but with matches against the other top teams inside the next month, they know they must improve on all aspects of their play, especially in the set scrum where they were outplayed by Cheshunt yet BE had the superior line-out and were also more dangerous with ball in hand. The return of PETER MOULTON after injury, until he went off just after the hour mark, was useful and gave BE more options in the line-outs where he and JAMES ORAM were outstanding, as usual, although the duo were helped by good support work by fellow forwards.

They were ahead after less than a minute when HARRY EADE kicked a penalty goal: EADE landed a second penalty with seconds before the half time whistle and the same player had a good success rate with the boot, both at goal and for touch. After this early lead, BE could not build on it, more because Cheshunt were winning or disrupting thir scrum ball whilst both sets of backs made errors either knocking-on or losing possession. Added to that, poor passing and both teams made little progress when they had the ball. Then, on 25 minutes, an attack led by MOULTON AND ORAM sent MATT HARRIS over for a try on the right wing: despite this, HARRY EADE slotted the conversion. Then, minutes later, NICK MICHEL reacted swiftly to loose line-out ball won by Cheshunt as he snapped it up and ran over 50 metres for his first 1st XV try, under the posts to give HARRY EADE a simpler conversion. This spurred Cheshunt into a series of prolonged attacks and their forwards managed to score a try after a series of scrums and line-outs close to the BE line.

With EADE's second penalty, BE were 20-5 ahead at the interval and they had to withstand a concerted Cheshunt period of pressure for 15 minutes but their defence held out and BE were able to clear their lines. The rest of the second half was a bit of a mess as both sides made errors or lost their discipline, leading to several words by the referee to both Captains. The rest of the half just petered out with neither side being able to put together any meaningful attack.

There is no game for the 1st XV on 8th Nvember but they are away to London Welsh Amateurs, Old Deer Park, Richmond, on 15th November at 2.15pm.

PGY